Improvement in trunks, portmanteaus



H. F. WORTHINGTON.

TRUNKS, POR'I'MANTEAUS, &c.

No. 189,410. Patented April 10, 1877.

N.PETERS PHOTD-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

HARRY F. WORTHINGTON, OF SOUTH RIVER, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNKS, PORTMANTEAUS, 8co- Specification forming part ofLetters Patent N o. 1 89,410, dated April 10, 1877; application filedFebruary 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, HARRY F. 'WonTHING-TON, of South River, Middlesex county, State ot New Jersey, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trunks, Portmanteaus,Valises, &c., of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to increase the usefulness of trunks,portmanteaus, valises, or similar traveling-cases, and to adapt them foruse not only to carry articles, but to be extended to increase theircubical area for the transportation of large articles; and to that endit consists in providing such a traveling-case with means for expandingits dimensions, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The drawings illustrating my improved traveling-case show, in Figure 1,a perspective view of the same closed in its most compact form; Fig. 2,a plan view of the same opened to its maximum dimensions; Fig. 3, alongitudinal section on line a, Fig. l, of the same in its closedcondition; and Figs. 4 and 5, details of construction.

It is a well-known fact that traveling-cases are usually so constructedthat their dimensions are limited, in one direction at least, by thesize of their frame-work, and that such cases are only extensible bymeans of flexible or bellows-shaped sides, which may be forced outwardlywhen the article is filled to its fullest capacity. Such flexible orbellows-sided traveling-cases form a cumbersome article when they areonly partially filled, for the reason that the said means for theirenlargment either loosely protrude from them or form a bulky mass whenstrapped down upon them.

My improvement consists in providing the main or body portion of atrunk, portmanteau, valise, or similar travelingcase with auxiliarycompartments, which are so constructed as to be capable of sliding inand out of said body portion, to increase or diminish the cubical areaof said traveling-case, and adapt it for the carriage of a greater orlesser quantity of contents, too fully hereinafter pointed out to needpreliminary description.

In carrying out this invention an ordinary traveling-case is constructedwith open ends,

in which are introduced box-shaped compartments A, whose inner ends areopen, and whose tops are provided with a cover, hinged thereto. Thesecompartments A are adapted to slide within the body 0 of the case, and,when in a closed position, are contained within said body, thus forminga traveling-case of ordinary dimensions, but with doubled sides, top andbottom, as is indicated in Fig. 3, in which condition the case iscapable of receiving its minimum quantity or bulk of articles to betransported. When, however, articles of great longitudinal dimensionsare required to be carried in this traveling-case, or such as are of abulk exceeding the minimum capacity of the traveling-case, thecompartments A may be slid outwardly to increase the interiorlongitudinal dimensions of the case, and consequently its cubical area,as is seen in Fig. 2, where, for the purpose of illustration, a shirt isshown as introduced in said case. In this instance, the article being ofgreater length than the body 0 of the case, it cannot be placed thereinwithout doubling, and thereby injuring the article.

When the traveling-case is thus to be used its cover D is opened, andthe covers B B of the auxiliary compartments A are thrown open, and saidcompartments are slid outwardly far enough to provide an area equal tothe length of the articles to be packed therein, or increased in'sizeequal to the cubical contents to be received.

When the traveling-case has thus been suitably packed the covers B arefolded inwardly onto the auxiliary compartments A, and the cover D isclosed down thereon and locked in the usual manner. In this conditionthe traveling-case will be preserved in its lateral dimensions, whileits length will be increased to an extent equal to that of its normalcondition plus the extent to which the auxiliary compartments extendfrom its ends-in short, it will be increased in its length.

The sides a b or bottom a of the auxiliary compartments may be providedwith catches, bolts, a set-screw, or similar device, engaging with thesides 0 i or bottom m of the body 0 of the traveling-case, to secure thesaid auxiliary compartments A in any relative position of theirextension from the body 0.

While any of the common devices for holding in fixed relative positionstwo devices sliding upon each other may be used, I have shown in Fig. 4a spring-catch for this purpose, and in Fig. 5 a set-screw, both ofwhich devices are operated from the interior of the traveling-case; butan exterior fastening may be used, or the auxiliary compartments A maybe held extended by the materials packed within the case, their fartherprotrusion from the case being prevented by external devices such asstraps 0, with which traveling-cases are usually provided, and whichserve to protect the same when subjected to the hardships of travel.

This invention has been described as applied to an ordinary travelingcase or valise, having a shallow cover, D, hinged to one side of itsmain body or box portion 0, and with auxiliary compartments A of a sizeequal to that of the box. It is to be understood, however, that thisinvention is applicable to such a traveling-case when the same isdivided longitudinally into two equal body portions, hinged together. Insuch case four auxiliary compartments, A, may be provided, one in eachend of its two body-portions.

This invention is also applicable to trunks constructed either withshallow covers or with equal top and bottom body-portions.

It is equally applicable to all rectangular or other shapedtraveling-case. One auxiliary compartment only might be used. In suchcase it would be preferable to have the auxiliary compartments slidefrom one side of the traveling-case-as in the instance of a knapsack,which, it is obvious, it would be desirable not to increase laterally,but to have the bottom extensible, so that the added bulk will rest uponthe back of the wearer, and thus not interfere with the arms or head ofhis person. In some cases, though, two auxiliary compartments, as hereinrepresented, might extend from the sides and protrude beyond hisshoulders.

In all smaller traveling-cases the construction will preferably be ametallic frame-work, inclosed by a flexible covering, this constructionto be the same, both in the body of the case and its auxiliarycompartments.

In large traveling-cases, or such as are intended for the transportationof heavy articles, the whole structure might be made of heavy leather,metal, wood, or similar strong materials.

It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is in no wiselimited by the material used, the form of the article, its shape,or theposition of the line ofdivision separating its cover from its body, orby the number of auxiliary compartments A embodied in it.

What, therefore, is claimed as new is The combination, with the box orbody 0 and its cover D D, the auxiliary compartments A A and covers B B,substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribiu g witnesses.

Witnesses:

H. T. MUNSON, M. B. PBILIPP.

